This exceptional sideboard is one of six known related examples crafted in Newport, Rhode Island, c.1800. One example is in the Winterthur Collection and is illustrated in Charles F. Montgomery, American Furniture: The Federal Period, 1966, cat.359. Montgomery, curator of American arts, exclaims: “Few forms in American furniture are more dramatic in contour than the sideboard… No counterpart is to be found in the design books or price books, and few with as robust figure of line known.”
I certainly agree with Montgomery, but Albert Sack of the Israel Sack Gallery in New York felt that these sideboards are quite deep, and sideboards with less depth were more desirable in the world of retail.
One of these sideboards is at the Rhode Island Historical Society, another advertised in Antiques Magazine, December 1966, and finally another appeared in the Christie’s sale, New York, June 1994, lot 259.
Our sideboard was at Northeast Auctions in 2005. We had genealogical research conducted on this gift’s recipient, Ezra Sweet, daughter of George Tennant, who was a captain in the American Revolution, part of General Greene’s Brigade. George Tennant became a successful businessman in the historic town of Wickford, Rhode Island, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
From a design standpoint, this piece is a sideboard without sides, as the shape of the case is defined by undulating curves with conforming doors that diminish in depth along the wall, making its serviceability a great asset. As it is rather deep relative to size, it can accommodate a very good spread that has easy access from the sides as well as the front. Also, this sideboard is slightly smaller and takes up a little less wall space than most. Looking at this piece, one sees a pull-out tray—which conforms with the serpentine case form—flanked by the two middle legs. Under the tray is a typed, partially legible family history. Please see the additional images for detail. From then on, it’s a series of curves.
The mahogany is of striking ribbon grain, all of which has developed a lovely amber tone with great patina. From what we have studied, the maker is most likely Holmes Weaver of Newport, because he shows the exact silhouette in his advertising and is the only maker known to do so. However, there were, at this time, a small grouping of artisans in Newport who were constructing casepieces with related signature inlays, as seen on the legs of this piece—i.e., Stephen and Daniel Goddard and Holmes Weaver among them.
There are no major alterations, repairs, or breaks. We have French polished this piece.
Height: 37 ¼ in. Width: 66 ½ in. Depth: 25 in.
Revised August 3, 2026